Author: Steven Sahiounie

Netanyahu Announces Sending Israeli Negotiation Team to Cairo On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that an Israeli negotiation team will be dispatched to Cairo on Monday. The purpose of this visit is to further discuss the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the team aims to negotiate the continuation of the ceasefire’s initial phase. Last Saturday, the sixth batch of this phase concluded with Hamas and Islamic Jihad releasing three Israeli hostages, in exchange for Israel freeing 369 Palestinian prisoners. Since the ceasefire began, 19 Israeli hostages…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator On February 27, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Palestinian representatives will meet in Riyadh to discuss a plan they are developing to counter the plan proposed by US President Donald J. Trump. Trump had floated a plan for the US to own Gaza and deport all the Palestinians while the prime seaside property is turned into a tourist destination. The plan was well received by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as the Israeli government has always wanted the original inhabitants of Palestine to be evicted, and over the decades has…

Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Lebanon has rejected any extension of the Israeli occupation of its territory. On Thursday, President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed that “Lebanon is intensifying diplomatic efforts to ensure Israel’s withdrawal by February 18.” Aoun said that the country was actively engaging with influential global powers, particularly the US and France, to secure a sustainable resolution. On Thursday, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer announced that Israel would retain control over five strategic high points inside Lebanon following the expiry of the ceasefire next Tuesday, and added “The army will not withdraw in the near future.” Steven…

Freed Israeli Prisoner: “We almost died from the Israeli army’s shelling, but we were saved at the last moment.” In a significant critique, four Israeli female soldiers, who were held captive for over 15 months by Hamas in Gaza, have voiced harsh criticisms against the Israeli Forces following their release. These soldiers, who served as observers, were captured on October 7, 2023, during a surprise attack by Hamas on Israel and were released in January under a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. According to Channel 12 in Israel, a tense meeting occurred this Friday between the freed soldiers and…

Surge in Syrian Refugees Willing to Return Home A recent survey conducted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has revealed a significant increase in the number of Syrian refugees expressing a desire to return to their homeland. The data shows that 27% of Syrians are now planning to go back within the next year, a stark contrast to just 1.7% who expressed similar intentions before the fall of Assad’s regime. According to a report by Syrian TV on Saturday, the UNHCR highlighted that three-quarters of Syrian refugees still do not have clear plans to return, showing hesitation…

German Advisor Rejects Foreign Interference in Democracy Amidst Controversial Support for AfD In a pointed critique at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, German advisor Olaf Scholz lambasted comments made by U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who had voiced support for Germany’s far-right “Alternative for Germany” (AfD) party. Scholz, a member of the Social Democratic Party, firmly rejected any outside influence in the German electoral process. Scholz stated that the AfD party downplays the severity of Nazi crimes and atrocities. He emphasized that Vance’s commitment to “never again” allow such historical atrocities to repeat, made during his visit to the…

Zelensky’s Conditions for Meeting Putin On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the only Russian official he is prepared to speak with is President Vladimir Putin, but this will only happen after Ukraine agrees on a joint plan with U.S. President Donald Trump and European leaders. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Zelensky revealed that Trump had given him his personal phone number, assuring him that he could call at any time. Zelensky, speaking in English, said, “I will meet with one Russian official, that is Putin, (and that will happen) only after we reach a joint plan with…

Saudi Arabia Welcomes Trump-Putin Summit for Lasting Peace Between Moscow and Kyiv On Friday, Saudi Arabia expressed its willingness to host a summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, to foster “lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.” The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs lauded the recent phone call between Trump and Putin on Wednesday, which announced the possibility of a summit in the Kingdom. A statement from the ministry said, “The Kingdom welcomes the holding of the summit on its soil and reaffirms its commitment to efforts aimed at achieving permanent peace between Russia and…

Ursula von der Leyen on Recent US Statements: A Call for European Action Recent statements from Washington have stirred confusion across Europe, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Addressing the Munich Security Conference on Friday, von der Leyen spoke on the topic “The EU in the World,” highlighting the impact of U.S. officials’ remarks at the beginning of this week. “High-level American officials’ statements have bewildered many in Europe’s security community, even raising concerns,” von der Leyen stated. “However, we need to be honest. We must avoid anger and shouting. If we listen to the essence of…

Turkish and US Foreign Ministers Discuss Syrian Developments, Gaza, and Regional Issues In a significant diplomatic exchange, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and U.S. Foreign Minister Marco Rubio delved into recent developments in Syria and the ongoing situation in Gaza. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The dialogue extended to discussions on the Ukrainian dossier, highlighting the broader geopolitical concerns. Fidan emphasized the critical need for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and stressed the urgency of resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for stability and peace in the region. On his part, Rubio announced that the…